COMMERCE, Ga. - After the first scheduled Summit ET Series drag racing event at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. was rained out, racers finally got a chance to take to the drag strip Saturday afternoon.
Gary Dunn of Flowery Branch, Ga. won several rounds by extremely tight margins en route to the Super Pro final, and went on to score the division victory.
For the final round, Dunn put his opponent, Stan Sinack into the left lane. Dunn left the line in his ’82 Chevy S10 pickup with a 0.011 react to Sinack’s 0.052, and crossed the big end stripe 0.017 seconds in front of Sinack’s Lilburn, GA based ’69 Dart. Cole Sheriff (’96 Spitzer – Lula, Ga.) was the lone semi-finalist.
David Simmons from Suwannee, Ga. has been there, done that in the bracket racing world, including a Super Gas win at Indianapolis. He has already won several events this year, including Bracket Two at the recent NMCA/NMRA event. Saturday, he paired up against Scott Reynolds (’02 Camaro – Cartersville, Ga.) in the Pro final, cut the better light (0.036 to 0.050) and then cut things close at the top end with an off the throttle but dead-on 8.351 at 85.94 mph (8.35 dial). Reynolds was close behind with an 8.47 at 86.11 mph (8.46 dial). Christ Thompson (bright yellow ’71 Vega – Murphy, N.C.) was the semi-final finisher in Pro.
Allen Long (’96 Silverado – Ballground, Ga.) wasn’t worried in the Sportsman final when he saw his opponent was Scott Reynolds. Long just did his normal thing, cut a light and go down the track. To his delight, he saw the win light in his lane pop on midway down the track after Reynolds left the red foul light glowing at the starting line with his Camaro. Mike Newby (’69 Chevelle – Roswell, Ga.) ended his day in the semi-final round. Long’s times were 17.15 at 79.24 mph (17.25 dial). Reynolds also broke out with a 13.07 at 106.77 mph (13.13 dial).
Super Pro Bike racer Tim Sutton (’89 Suzuki – Clermont, Ga.) emerged as the winner of Super Pro Bike after defeating Jordan Autrey (’11 Kawasaki – Traveler’s Rest, S.C.). Sutton’s numbers were great, with a good 0.028 react and a one over 8.960 at 140.07 (8.95 target). Autrey was a close second with a 0.033 react and a 9.43 at 144.86 mph (9.35 dial). Jimmy “Cha Cha” Heisler (’00 Kawasaki – Woodstock, Ga.) and Randy Barnett (’08 Suzuki – Colbert, Ga.) went home with the semi-finalist portion of the purse.
Street ET Bike winner Randy Barnett of Colbert, Ga. won the first Summit ET Series event of the 2014 season, and repeated that feat again in 2015, this time against Brian Wilson (’01 Suzuki – Tallapoosa, Ga.). Barnett’s closer 9.23 at 144.58 mph (9.20 dial) earned the win light after Wilson’s bike slowed on the top end to an 11.49 at 113.70 mph (11.40 dial). Randy Day (’12 Kawasaki – Anderson, S.C.) ended the day in the semi-finalist position.
Seven year old Alayna Carden from McDonough, Ga. began her racing career late last season, and scored her first Atlanta Dragway win in 6-9 Jr. Dragster against Cannon Stiles (9 – Winder, Ga.). Carden actually broke out with a 14.17 at 44.43 mph (14.27 dial), but had the race in her hand the moment Stiles left the starting line with the foul light glowing. Stiles chose to run his car out anyway, and posted a 12.15 at 51.53 mph (12.40 dial). Stephen Skelton (6 – Cleveland, Ga.) finished as a semi-finalist.
Jacob Wilson (12 – Tallapoosa, Ga.) was also a beneficiary of an opponent’s red light start in 10-12 Jr. Dragster. Wilson’s win was already sealed before he left the starting line when opponent Jackson Earwood (12 – Cleveland, Ga.) left the starting line too quickly, illuminating the foul light. Wilson’s times were 8.93 at 72.51 mph (8.95 dial) and Earwood posted an otherwise near-perfect 9.111 at 73.28 mph (9.11 dial). Nate “Hot Rod” Halsey (12 – Clermont, Ga.) and Adam Brown (11 – Covington, Ga.) were the semi-finalists.
The 13-17 Jr. Dragster final was initially confusing, but in the end, Austin Carden (15 – McDonough, Ga.) was declared the winner, as he had properly staged his car per the rules. Carden was helpless when his engine quit shortly after fully staging, but was the lucky recipient of the day when 13-year-old Macey Ludoph’s Snellville, Ga. based racecar broke out with a 7.906 at 83.51 mph (7.91 dial). Rachel Flowers (14 – Loganville, Ga.) and Chris Kittle (15 – Oxford, Ga.) ended their day in the semi-final round.
For more info on the Atlanta Dragway, visit AtlantaDragway.com.
Atlanta Dragway – Commerce, GA
Race Results – March 2, 2015
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Dunn ’82 S10 pickup Flowery Branch, GA 6.09 108.92 (6.05)
R/U: Stan Sinack ’69 Dart Lilburn, GA 6.46 105.50 (6.45)
Semi: Cole Sheriff ’96 Spitzer Lula, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: David Simmons ’00 S10 pickup Suwanee, GA 8.351 85.94 (8.35)
R/U: Scott Reynolds ’02 Camaro Cartersville, GA 8.473 86.11 (8.46)
Semi: Chris Thompson ’71 Vega Murphy, NC
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Allen Long ’96 Silverado Ballground, GA 17.15 79.24 (17.25)
R/U: Scott Reynolds ’02 Camaro Cartersville, GA (foul) 13.072 106.77 (13.13)
Semi: Mike Newby ’69 Chevelle Roswell, GA
SUPER PRO BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Tim Sutton ’83 Suzuki Clermont, GA 8.96 140.07 (8.95)
R/U: Jordan Autrey ’11 Kawasaki Traveler’s Rest, SC 9.43 144.86 (9.35)
Semi: Randy Barnett ’08 Suzuki Colbert, GA
Semi: Jimmy ChaCha Heisler ’00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA
STREET ET BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Randy Barnett ’08 Suzuki Colbert, GA 9.23 144.58 (9.20)
R/U: Brian Wilson ’01 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA 11.49 113.70 (11.40)
Semi: Randy Day ’12 Kawasaki Anderson, SC
6-9 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Alayna Carden 7 McDonough, GA 14.17 44.43 (14.27)
R/U: Cannon Stiles 9 Winder, GA (foul) 12.15 51.53 (12.40)
Semi: Stephen Skelton 6 Cleveland, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Wilson 12 Tallapoosa, GA 8.93 72.51 (8.95)
R/U: Jackson Earwood 12 Cleveland, GA (foul) 9.111 73.28 (9.11)
Semi: Nate“Hot Rod” Halsey 11 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Adam Brown 11 Covington, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Austin Carden 15 McDonough, GA broke (7.90)
R/U: Macey Ludolph 13 Snellville, GA 7.906 83.51 (7.91)
Semi: Rachel Flowers 14 Loganville, GA
Semi: Chris Kittle 15 Oxford, GA
